Warriors stay unbeaten with big 9th inning

By By Tony Krausz / assistant sports editor
Feb. 24, 2003
The Jones County Junior College Bobcats (0-4) will have to wait for another game to pick up their first win of the season.
JCJC fell 11-4 to the still unbeaten and now 5-0 East Central Community College Warriors in the opening game of the second day of the Rush Classic baseball tournament on Sunday at Scaggs Field.
The Bobcats entered the final inning trailing the Warriors 5-4, but ECCC rallied for a 10 at bat, six run ninth inning to sink JCJC.
JCJC seemed poised to take a one-run deficit into the final half inning of the game before an error changed the tide in the contest.
The Bobcats got two outs to start the ninth, but JCJC center fielder Donnie Dearman misplayed the potential third out of the inning allowing ECCC second baseman Jake Nester to reach first base.
Warriors first baseman Justin Darby made sure the Bobcats paid for the fielding miscue hitting a double into right-center field allowing Nester to score for first for a 6-4 lead.
ECCC designated hitter Destin Moore followed Darby's two bagger with a RBI double of his own for a 7-4 lead.
Warriors pinch hitter Kentay Eiland hit a two-run double as well, and pinch hitter Robby Carey drove in two runs with a single to finish the scoring.
The opening day contest on the tournament's second day appeared to be heading into the direction of a slugfest after the opening inning.
ECCC scored two runs on wild pitches to jump out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning.
JCJC tallied three runs of its own in the bottom half of the inning for a 3-2 advantage.
Bobcats left fielder Scott Robertson drove in two runs with a double down the third-base line, and designated hitter Robert White drove in the third run on a sacrifice ground out.
ECCC relief pitcher Wes Turner proved to be the most calming force on the mound entering the game in the fifth inning, with two outs.
The freshman from Neshoba Central High School picked up the win allowing no runs on one hit in 3 2/3 innings of work, with three strike outs.
The rest of the game did not go as smoothly as Turner's performance, as both team combined for a nine errors (ECCC four; JCJC five) over the nine-inning contest.
ECCC tied the game at three in the third inning bringing Nester across the plate on a sacrifice fly to right field by Darby.
The Warriors took a 4-3 lead in the fifth on a RBI single by Nester, but JCJC knotted the contest at four in the bottom of the inning when second baseman Kelly Rounsaville scored on a error.
ECCC grabbed a 5-4 advantage in the top of the seventh inning on a RBI single from Darby.